BANQUET TO E. WAKEFIELD Esq.

Inangahua Times, Volume VIII, Issue 1274, 21 May 1883, Page 2

BANQUET TO E. WAKEFIELD Esq.

♦ — ■—■ — Mr E. Wakefield was entertained by his committee and supporters at a banquet in Dawßon's Hotel, on Tuesday evening last. The repast was laid out in tho large . dining room of the hotel, seats being pro- , vided for 86 persons, but the attendance was close upon 150, many of those present I being compelled to Btand for want of room. The visitors being seated, Mr W. H. Jones occupying the chair, and Mr P. Q. Caples the vice chair, the guest entered the room and was received with a tremendous burst of applause, which was kept up for several minutes. Due attention having been bestowed upon the ample fare provided. The Chairman proposed the toast of "The Queen," the Black's Point Band taking up the strain The Chairman rose to propose the gust toast, which he said he was sure **epuKUbe received with the utmost cordiality. During the past seven years he had attended many similar gatherings, but he could truthfully say, that never on any former occasion had he risen with such mingled feelings of plaiM , u-*e^u^^ragßet as he did then. Thej.JlJii 1 lasA^tei t|gether that evening for the purpose of paying a ' compliment to their • honored guest, Mr Wake*, eld, who, although a defeated candidate, had nevertheless proved himself to be none the less worthy, of the highest admiration aftd ! respect. ' (Cheers). Mr Wakefield had been invited to contest the Inangahua seat, and in obedience to the call had come over and passed through one of the hardest electioneering battles ever fought in New Zealand. (Applause). He had, however, from first to last fought it out fairly and honorably, and although he had not won the day it was not because he was not considered the best man, but simply owing to theet^a^rdig*ry^*dun-^ fair forces brought on ofherg«^n6V_pbeja-V against Mm. (Loud Applause). Had he been allowed to contend only with his opponent, there would have been nothing to complain 6f, nor the slightest doubt as to |a different result being arrived at. Cheers). But, unfortunately for the iistrict, he had to fight against odds if a very unfair and very unequal nature. 'Cheers.) In the first >mft_nce ! h_s ; op>onent was backed up by all the influence rhich the Government could bring to tear in his favor, and, as if this was not ufficient, all. the- weight of the local body tad been arrayed against bim. (Cheers. 1 ) Che County Council was unquestionably I. powerful electioneering opponent to ! ight against, and it was beyond doubt ( hat the Council had strained every pose ible nerve to make the contest as unequal b s possible. (Loud Cheei^ Jfot -.only I ad the local body done fjhi^bitf the very a srvants had become the strongest part zans and canvassed from corner to corner against Mr Wakefield. (Cheers.) And e|ren the very road men employed under t lem had been rolled up to vote as their haders told them- (vreat Cheering.) low if this sort of thing were permitted ti i go on there was an end at once to c rerything like fair play in electioneering. (< 'heors. ) And sooner or later the people Wtould have to ask themselves seriously whether they would Buffer such a state of affairs to continue. (Cheers.) At almost every election of late this question of the ; aliameful abuse of younty Council influence had cropped up, and the time was atj hand when some would have to be made" In the public "interest to put a stop to it. (Great Cheering.) For his own part he saw but too plainly that so long as the people allowed the Council to be represented by due section of the community, so long would it be impossible to get rid of the evil complained of (Cheers.) Throughout the present election not a single mean 'tripk or artifice had been resorted to to get :'k' yote for Mr Wakefield, (Cheers) nor I Had the candidate himself said a Bingle [ 'ford of which he or his supporters could loo), back upon with regret. (Cheers.) (■-But the conduct of tbe otlier side had ' been very different, tlie most unlicenced ' rpiud-throwing had been .resorted to by them, and abuse had been made to do the I duty of argument. From the very beginning of the contest to'the end the same ' u'nfiir and disgraceful spirit had character- ' ised the conduct of the other side. He need Aonljr refer to the shameful withholding of (applications for erollment, and this by one I bf 4r Shaw's Committee, (Loud Cheers.) This kind of thing should be reprobated by every fair minded man in the community and he was sure that nowhere would it be more strongly condemned then amongst the more respectable of Mr Shaw's own supporters. (Cheers.) The keeping back of these applications was not only a breach of faith aa mean and reprehensible as any- | thing, could be, but robbing a man of his franchise was little short of a crime. (Loud cheers.) He wa-. happy to say that I on Mr Wakefield's side nothing had boeu

done which left the slightest handle for complaint by his opponents, and saying this for ithe minority, he was glad to belong Mi the minority, and if the contest were ijS jpe fought, over againhe felt con!Q(t SsfmpatnWe v me^i ;and had raitXbeen fought out on tt%gp!sH n had not been a case of Wakefield agains^ Ishawrbln?ttnlply^^ was the issue -"thatAhad^been puU-oJbe^ eteflffirT'o^^ the issue that ha^^erfmked up by all the influence and resources of the Council. There had been ho attempt to compare the two candidates in point of fitness or abilityi for; ft fftmld have Tw|i|afi fodf\ drfyr-Mdbi ki (Cheers).* It **Aa l irainitt6d' that Mr Wakefield was all that his friends claimed for him, but the one argument had been that he was brought forward by the wrong party. What could be the state of publio feeling in a community where such an argument WaV resorted to ? Did it net necessarily mean that! the County G<^is^\^fai^^ Am^BmAia be the dictator in all things, and if such a state of things were allowed there would be an end at once to all independence in the community. (Cheers). The County Council was right enough co long as its functions were properly and impartially exercised, but directly its members went outside theaHtegitlmate- field to convert it into a machine for political oppression, every right thinking man should rise and denounce it, and- never rest until he had swept it out of the community. (Great cheering). .He thought it was improper also for distinct organisations, or secret societies of any kind to interfere as such -ap electiona^l'he^iafcmbers ff such socf| jfiies indivi'Mlly hid a p^fffct rigflt to vote and act as they pleased, but it was wrong to in any way -mix up the obligations of the one and the other. The subject was a rather delicate one to refer to, and he did not wish to make any unpleajS|U^|eflecti£H'*jrb**^a*|i|g Mt it^a (il> ccjLdem-t^i^euin -Ail thei Coun.ll*-iA~ the matter, he felt it incumbent to refer thus lightly to the subject. (Applause). Referring more closely to the guest of the evening, he said that six weeks ago Mr Wakefield was a perfect, granger -person-, ally tb "every tf_ntini._*.e* (own.' ' He had, however, visited the" district and canvassed it from end to end; affording the electors the fullest opportunity of judging of his was that he had secured the respect and admiration of every class in the community — not even excepting his opponents. (Prolonged cheers). He had shown that he was a sound politician possessing a; wide and thorough knowled^er-of the public affair* £o£| "the ?coiJri|ry$ > a|_d deep h-teresim-theNvelfare an 3 progress of theT.Oplony.7l (Cheers.) It was on account of his reputation for these qualifications -that Mr. Wake-, field had fit st beeSa invited to contest this,seat. He wasjpitched upon .as a man who had no strong national or religious learnings'— a man, in fact, utterly wHhout prejudices of any kind. I arid, .ifcAwas thou^hi-'-^&v.-hu^h-'a'iQlEml' possessing in additiori rare ability and an extensive experience in political affairs, would command the unanimous support of the constituency, as he undoubtedly shbulpl have done, and would hdvelddo'e^htd^fine miserable action of a majority of the County Council (Cheers.) Had the gentlemen who invited Mr; Wakefield over hit upon a strong party man, with violent national or religious antipathies. ! — on3- whb wousjha*v"p come qfrer a£*j[ stirred up the very wprst^assi^nsrm human nature — the chances are that such a man, no matter how small his ability, would have been elected, .but acting in the interest of the public alone, they had carefully avoided such a course, and what was the result? The very section of the community whose feelings- nar^^beßW**most respected in the choice had, with a few honorable exceptions, worked most hardly against him — (applause) — and all this because the two or three persons who invited the candidate over, happen to be in the bad books of the Council. He held that the opposition was dishonorable to free institutions to be condemned from one end of the Colony to the other. (Great cheering.) There was this consolation, however, thst in spite of all the Council influences, Air. Wakefield had been landed within 42 votes of the head of the poll, and this without resorting to a house to house.canyass, and without making any promises to the electors which the candidate did not mean to fulfil. (Prolonged cheers.) The result had shown that the electors throughout the district thoroughly endorsed the action of the gentlemen [ who brought Mr. Wakefield over, and would be a strong inducement on some future occasion tp act in a similar manner. (Cheers.) "He concluded by proposing the health of " Our honored guest, Mr. Wakefield." The applause which followed was deafening, and was kept up for several minutes. Musical si'leotioqsjjy Blaofc-'s Point Band. '''"• " " -A' ' Song, Mr W. Dunn. Mr Wakefield, who rose amidst a strong burst of applause said. That be had arrived at that moment at the, mpss difficult position* he Had pccurjiedV since his arrival oV' the" West Coast. ' They had all seen him fighting the ' contest, in the face of tremendous j odds, but with a resolution and deter- ■ mination, which he knew would carry ' him through. (Cheers). Yet, when he « rose on that final occasion, he felt that ' he did not know how to express himself < . "•**Aja" -. Af-rl*- •*..-•■ •' v

lor what to say. He had fought many 1 1 electioneering battles in New Zealand i \ and had obtained some brilliant vio- y$ tories, but it was the common foi^ j tune that he should also encounter de|7 j fe&St^ Ux]^a_Si^& er jj slSlpest. jHep!o B W^"M no * ™? : ■ the^contes. that ithe had to go through the same ordeal to-morrow he would , iW% . hmifrte, -ioE«a«j_iomen-fc*«^*do so," ' whatever the result might be (Tremendous cheering.) For (the- i defeat then 'he was personally indifferent but he did fegLfojLj^^ " warmest friends and supporters throughout and who had stood byjhim in the contest and done all that pen , could honorably do for him. (Applause.) He felt for them for be knew fyow/inudhjjtbey felt the defeat ttjem--eiv-aSi- 'But when he looked at thd re 5 - ' suit, arid considered the enormous odds' , they had had to fight against he cduid •>■ not but feel proud because they bad > really done wonders in even plading } where he was ou the poll, arid havirig listened to the kindly and manly wqrds. , of the chairman he felt that-he wcjuUi : a hundred times rather lose the seat- ' with honor and the support of jfche 0 ' friends around him than win it in fijle f. manner it had been won by his iop^A ponent. (Tremendous cheering.) Foci i after all the career of a public man in this country was a checkered one, and had many ups and downs, and it wals' not a defeat hero or there that settled-. his life if his heart was- really in the work. (Great cheers.) Themoreclosfely contested the election the better th£ opportunity of electors to judge of merits and fitness of the candidate,: and looking baok upon the history ' ob the past six weeks he was glad to |be. able to say that he saw nothing in! it *oj", which he could be ashamed^ iCheers.) The result then would riot Tower him at all in the eyes of tW Oolony, but on the contrary, raise himf in public estimation. (Cheera) His.' visit to the district had been one lot' great pleasure to him. It had brought him into close contact with 2000 j^peTOl'eVlifiSngS whom he had ma(le r Mnemy"7rie_rasnip3 which would last! a,', life time. He had come to a new district where everything was strange and curious to his experience and had gained a mass of fresh information which could not but be of the highest 'v_!h-e' to ninraa a public man in giving him a firmer foothold in the country. (Loud cheers.) In this respect particularly his visit had done him an irn-. mense amount of good and although lamajority of the people had on the present occasion pronounced against him as a representative, he felt confident that now that tbey knew him better, should an opportunity again offer, they .wpuHL rejfqj-n him triumphantly. (Caeje-Hj.) ■•Bpf#lj? was undoubtedly unpleasant, but .Tot the reasons he had stated he did not regret it a bit. j (I^joud cheers.) He ."Icnew'Tbig" friends regretted it f . however, -and he knew-i why they regretted &■ , They regretted '! it the more because they had invited him from a distance iv the fullest confidence of retyrning him, and because they felt that jie ought' on public $ro^iidif ''-to-' Have been returned* (Cheers.) But ha' could assure them that the result had left him nothing whatever to regret. (Cheera) They had at all events not greatly over-esti-i* mated their influence and strength,! and so satisfied was he bf the resul. that, if required, he would be readyj again to-morrow to accept their in-' vitatiori and fight the battle over again.[Prolonged cheers.] In coming to the! West Coast he knew that he was' ca_hify| w^ltyjbnongst strangers, but he foahd^ on ml arrival that friends gathered round him, andthe better hei made himself known the wider became: the circle of his supporters. [Loud* Cheers.] Looking back then upon the contest, and bearing in mind thei potent influences brought against him, i he had every reason to be proud of his position, and equally Bhould his friends to whom he owed it It was indeed an epoch in his life to which he should always look back upon with satisfaction. [Cheers.] He had been told in Canterbury when coming over that he would never get on with the miners, but he was proud to say from what he had seen of them that he could never wiahto be^assoaiated with a finer class m fkm AMe^f oslessed a high grade of intelligence, took a keen interest in public affairs, and he always felt when addressing them that he had a quick and critical audience, who followed him in his addresses with a close and searching interest which made it a pleasure to him to speak to them. This feeling had been one of his main incentives throughout the contest, and which enabled him to fight so successfully against opponents who stuck at nothing. (Cheers). It was to the miners he had in the first instance turned for support, and it was to them he owed^sj present position on the poll. (Cheers). Twenty-three voters from his opponent's ranks would have placed him (the speaker) where it was undoubtedly the wish of the mining community he should be— at the head of the poll. (Cheers). This was a result he might well feel proud of, for a' close run entirely removed the sting of defeat. (Cheers). The chairman had gone pretty fully into the causes of his (the speaker's) defeat, and no doubt spoke with a good knowledge of .the subject. It was a great pity that any County Council should act in the manner stated. It was clearly no function of a properly constituted body to try and bias the electors either for or against a particular candidate. (Prolonged cheers). The public body only sxistod at the will of the people, and Jirectly it took violent sides there was reason to suspect the populari.y of its jonstitution. (Cheers). However, he

tiad fought the battle fairly, audit,; was,**, consolation to him to know thaC i throi^hout the contest, neither h% ' himself or any of bis supporters, had )^*%i ( l or <-* one an ythin|[ of hia , Wwst be in the least w»y as_oi_»ect 5 He looked '- about' l_ratt,thi.6' night and saw that he was jsun-olinded by many of the best men inthedlstricil^ 1 . and-^frei^ presence ihemV'that'ii^ht was a stibstantiai testimony ''that though he had not succeeded, he had at least secured their esteem and con^, n^rdc^r(Cheere)? Xlffiou^_riCft_SsS[, hq had polled a, greater number ofj vbtes'.hari'kriy'othef 'Unsuccessful candidate in the colony had. done, and far now * holding Mts in Parliampnt. (Cheers). But what added pleasure ,and[honor to: the' contest -was,,; that; he had ; r^_<n^6d'^ k^gehttiiie' support. :He had-^e-^■^l-;_^i^q.•l_;\.single. 'main, in the district .him,, nqr-r'^ad a' sipgl'e : maftbeen coerced, into supporfringihim*against his own cbnscleritious 'convictiori; <;• (Loud ehefer^). •As a public itifcifffiio valueH-'hil ieepu'tatibril'f.nd 'who^okecj fp^waj-d to^a, long, carpfer in the service oi thtf 'coiilitry^ he-^ould ratheta hundbedi timelr .uffe'r^efjsal*(X^e§jf),«_4e,would,^y in conclusion, .•.hat-^^Bobody knew 'what- changes -•would come -round '*in the 'of ■tiine^and should ' it eyer hS^peri* tha*.' the* elec|qrfl. bf.the, inangahua, |or v ' *y7est,Cpasjb, had another, vacancy and desired him to again-comefoVwardj jho, would'do co with the 'in the worldi arid;|f ele6^ed^ 3 : p||l(j ]so» ijegret ,that he had e!Vier;C9m^ ■amorigstr itl_em.,-(Prolonged^c_lee_ing')r^^ ; ..-., N^SongrMr.Cbhferi.-"^ ' u^'" [*f\ Tr 4 The'Ghaittna^ ".The ( M fining in4usta|y^ Inangahnat,-' r . ancl, coupled with -ther: toast- the' "narrife, of Mr.-^John Ttontteryi^^ Manager of the 1 G-oldeii 'Fleece'fnnie'i, A ' '; '' I \ I,l^* $f e^erjf, itt; i^ing, to respond i;^ said h«4id«p with^orejthah Ordinary •pleasure arid^pride, *bediiist3'he''kifew li^" Wtfa nd^nlt^fHhe'_huiefc^ !,D^ett v pJ|a(sp4>|at;; th«j top -of ;ithe "Pofi.^j (iottd cheers.) He 'had tieon afra|d|i that 1 the •resiilt ,; bf the contest from comi^ ggi-*^ard ( tQ,^ represent •, us j .in Parliament, but .'he was* delighted to' learn that there was yet a hope of the Inangahua se-^ririg: ''such an able bhairipiori, ahd|he could only Say that th^ v w&ujd; , boy glad. iOf; such g . I! ohai_Ce t .. 1 V: (Clhee-%,.>i -^Tlte .irtinwg indu_t*V^ re^ttired-ari' 'ible^a'dv^ Mrirflig^^thW "he ;(ihp:,speaker) 'felt s'iire -thatjiha people had not been true to -itheinsel-^es. v- (Lotwh chtkeih..)^ He felt ! sui«B^ 'however, thiatf ' a ;very • short experience cbnvinop ' ,%t -fijjvfc^e*^ ei^**aon>Mr:«Wab-|; field, wbul-Ureoeiv. sucfr -a v hearty aiid* unarotnousi support^^ |w would plaoe his ire'tdrn; beyond -all, dbubtl • -(Loud .a^aus^^-"7. 7:iL" ''' ,*■'' : ,Sorig^te ■■'■■•' [ \- -,"j Selections iby the' Barid. ; • ' ;"* v^ ' < •Mr.iWakefi'eld^d;: Sneakingahojit the res^lt^offllie" 'congest, -tliijiy jpoulcl all cdngfaWlai^ themselves thatrrt had resulted iii: such a plosefimflhiv It i*^^ admitted, even by ,|.bei** opjbohe^B^ -that; '"they had : doV- , ' i w,b^,e^,ii t^qr! 'of J ,the slriij[gle.s.o, ? w^lli bttt for ; thej generous and enthusiastic' .iipport'accorded him 'by^hisfrienas'frpto^pueend of lie electorate -to -j^ef. other.; This supDoff-vj^, the $6is aatlsf actory becajj^e^. K i]y,^n)e '"frbni all sides. ! (Qhefers.) , He was, : a-ware that so^e of those -who began by/, supporting him; sub_6t[tlent_y ' joiheof ! tb| l* the .* opposition. '■ ' -/prfis, Was co-nuionv-to'sni'dst ele^tbral^-own^i^ and nobody but toe pei-tensith'*mlelTOS knew the causes.. which operated to bring abQ*|^t^e-^^oti.Op.:.i ; t"%.ry often they .were of^|-aature tomppwe^ttht© resji^ ; aQd. w Ahe*«-pe*3o_iß^hem^ except in; one: of two; -instances, his friendschad -stuck to him loyally iio the last, and : he could congratulate himself Upon .possessing -throughout' tlfe e'Wctorateuthe ablest -bday of ;'cb^itp£ he had eyer^see)^ he''^we_rt;''db;w|[' > t^e ,Crrey .^ailpy ' _4__ej Oth'el* day he .found everywhere' strong.; comm^'ttep? Js wQrk and: full of hope,' and i*ea^y jwitlj^theiri advice, and ( pils- (i sessing such a correct knowledge, of the g&itionf ofr^iie¥-fti_;t -WeySad been_able-to4eU himirTOTH^ accuracy • ihe ; atoount '^.I's^^iHj^i would -"eeeive" o the diiffeijent polling ■ •plaee^i . Theylbadl itpl(d.'](i^.atJ3ni_l-i i jner^qh that lie sho^d-have a: majority|ofcio^Micl';the, polling , showed 68 ; at^ iNa <u Town he ! by : *. Messrs.' jM-Gregon iand liivm^stbT. '*' thatVl.e' fshoold have tf toafblfitVH-^i^yihe; f esfll^-h&d^rv^w; WI Wvi^C. |Nelsotl M G%tek,' Missra'Miis. „and> Law,. had placed the returns, at 72 each, j -while? the figju^s^came out 74i<and 781 (Cheers.) At Ahaura Mr. WVigh't and his other, friends there promised hirh majority of 12, and the poll gave him ' a lead of 7, five votes for Mr Shaw having come iv from Qther. polling places. When he got to Granville he was told by Messrs. Nicol and Baybiitt that he should have amajority of 11, but for a similar reason;, the numbe^W«9 l-eduded to 4 ; Moonlight promked ft jnajprifiy of 9,- and s *ii*& ; briif' . J sh'ort^ of that number These were ; really astonishing results, jand ..showed hew sy!s-T, tematically 1 , aSiti with" wfiat* care and" ability hisAco•^il_litt6e;B/^ad, , gauged their strength.' " (dheera) By an unfortunate oversight he had had no committee in Orwell Creek, and the consequence was that his cause went dreadfully crdftked there. (-Jaiighier^) The place had been allowed Wtafee care of "itstelfj'^nd' that ifc wasrl-ardly able to dd' aST 1

Ho*^^^he^_H^iofc blame the Orwell Creek people whcKvoted egainst him. What h&, Jiad. lacked in attention to the ele(M» there his opponent had , raadev gwH'. and^ it was only natural that |ie^|Dul_^Bap the advantage. Reefton^was, h&Vever, the great disappointmeiit .ffiiXL. His committee . . *.WJ_$$ pf, lmt there was no re-si^tii^rthei.-ih'fluences against which they had to contend. The County Councillors, their servants, and the .Pttfchouj-e-elemen-fc iu-Beeftowvas a heavy handicap against him, and he fejtvsure SenY-he Ange! Gabriel, and had the Cherubim and J^pimlor. a .connnitteß^itatovdd not have, secured .hina an extra vote. (Great laughter a^ cheers^ . Gboing to Black's fee yteMd by Messrs Fitch and Ramsay, of liis cotomitteo there, that he should poll 140 votes, and- have a majority of 85 ; the\resu-t showed, thi. hhr'e r ' hAct ' reoewetC *144 votes, giyii^ hjiifta, j^^ this notwithstand-Bg^ his opponent's voters i-^beet. Ant ap from ReetithiWvomtimi^o&a£ purpose* ; fApbJaiijyj-£^^ they, had hag a mfacjuf, uqiaeroflrtienfc out wonde*__3Uy ; .-w©lu< t&kftJio &<p.m. on thft. polling d^ ;i w»s «dvtsed they htat i ms-vk after that hour* W MT oWtarar from the Welcome mine, a^ a voted .for hisjbpj^epfy up^irig^e.-b^anco completely.^ , It,*wa^Ajvonderral, however, that heha^' wma^OJ^)l.(fflt lOflfe , %ere, as thg ~J;Vr..FTTifcfi^mflhn ~T culatiag* •n*M_iJ<j^'Wi^ffi^j:|'gO of » a.majority^hwea^pi»!B^^ktsot > He hai^rMWWaSng^ - trusted.^epc^?Ere .yl>iajhjW-fcloa& A r valuable work ia breall_slßwtilii#CjgK "' " pouentfa _aajorifty£-;_rt&v wro; n^^^rasA [ proud to -^.W^^jlS^lJeer , tion of '^GQmmm^J&mW^tt and the 6-r.ey 1 2Meft w orked so hard chee*»J^They_w^eatt4ve'me9 irti) haft „ had tha courage of their opin_o*__B > ana in cons^iMoTOl/#^l%i^^ft^Kl . H dared Wbrrfv-e a'&x^^ ■■ ; indeb.ed^tolW^LgJ^^of ; s ' heart ana lmna. \iAW&N^Z_<Ztiate ■/: tlven with &c -Aafe . : he acknowlenged the gfeat of A Mr P. Q.'Caple-?,'Mr*o-Brfe^^^£tf I ;D;Qiu|fleyr;arid/oTaie^;^ML^Be : tfrendship' he.wa^.prpudi^g^dkioied » cheers.] ilf , / .-.«<-j«_ a-jtH Song,, "^ #ilber& 0 *.<ta ta--S»4wt Selections by th(r_3__a_lol %cr, t t* Mr-Capkte ill* r£_jpbtodfe_* Itf fenalf: » of hinisW_na^hii crfnW^gßan'a - Iffrrendl^said, they had acwOron- a- "'- --jj .conscientious conviction that -obey were * \ supporting the best man for tho'district* [Cheerfc*J *hey*h*aa«tl6^^ >• I)ut*their-opinion*had beetf & ilb» "Way ' altered by the rMiML b *He was proud i -(of the part he hkd /takt^i ih the eput^t, . I ! was; sure __lJ^i^i_ow«wpy-ers -A •• ; jrdfk * nc sam 0 - ■**& if. the x>_>pQ^ttriity I offered, they. . wourcl do the ewhe igjifa -\ i to-morrow. {Prolonged applause.]/.* .-V< ■-''■•- I , Mr Pitoh responded on belmtt •oiib-a* --- •Blaqk's ;Point Comm-totee*, aijdlftfidj v> that although unsuccessful, they, wera ■"■'- aJl^Eroud>pf:-th9y^it^^i^WAtb Mr Jones proposed the health of ; I "The Grey County Cpundl." .^incl | cbupled' Wfl?it the name oTW ILT E.- - l. Qainuesßi Ghairman^^f.-^thar I '^!^/ I [Loud clieei*s.] He said^ that it was not-' | 'fihtirte I 'l_r>eymouth pey^eWloV . \ heavily Mr Wakefield was handicapped - ,by, the action ,of tbe lapalTbody ir. : ' Beefton, that they had urtereited. ; themselves in the 'Ctori^sl/When^vhey A . to seouro- -something lt_» fair ! play for thecapdidate..-i [OhßerSJ] Ji Fur '■'■ this reason they deserved the helrfy -thanfee 6t thi_^a*r_iW|Sttyi ' rdh6erVl •Th : e.tsa^ l wtefiuiik&_huß^ 7 •■■■_i4>t_lfliii* r-rti-..«'!*iM>T'--"'rj ■^TtJir^TlT'^rw ■,■ _. u 2|^ i^l#yyia-ir«spdjjid-^4__^ ' Mr. «Wa__aield««l_nve^l& lM*e*>he (thh a speaker) was ill in bed, but so.Atittomi m^^i_Mgi -T&SSp-i" '&mmZ^e such. a valuable representative, .thatj^e-" soon forgot all a"b^ut J^"illnes,.and i at , once took -md^^^^hm OKeQ, i Mr Wakefi^y^^pf^e^tiij^^ to him, but thawngirQad hißja-_e*Bhes>'«ad. > watohedr-Ms »ctfreer •_br , \m-_m s!«%^vlrifea%; ( _(i ? _n^*S . •jgahmt jfa-jMJim waftd*ta#e*ar«tAi«». • ' > ; rApplause.]- -His .'(the- s^e>K(3r^ fh^,^ ifeelirfg • jpossible op^positioii i •^Bn^fi , _?oand^a'te ' |on public grounds, belt IKF-STsult-Tiad shown thai^ riot- dn-ly ha^*lSerti^w*ou'-(u« topposi.tion,.bu.t Buch (r j9p ,oppoßi^oiv ti^ • ; broWbly'rib^parliamentety eanciidate j nad^y^r before; mefewithbint"^^ .[Cheer&] An opposition as disgraceful h pit waft tthfair arid utf!_tr|fil^'^.ulJ a s fcpptettsft-] The can__Mfl*e-_iait-Isee-a" -vilified, ntigf&og/^ ; Mtha licence that v h*d. iSever before ' l«en, equalled, .thatJby, I^6 'Verjt ; Md'whdw-jr^^^ •jtr^raß' riot tne caMidate ww'oMoseav : Jut those gotftfemeh^^^fegmihiin. '•■ |or V a-^ari_u^p^rteAhiig: -^Ife^-iaa , But A t^e result showed unmist-Mably; thiHbt '"of did the , grfeat "bulk of ttio iutellfeent' p^riio_( , or , ' the eleotor_t*endorsß hia s 'candnia-aiife, but would baek-him again if brought forward t^mp^-pw* Cheem kkL#dte* L he (the l !3peaker->fotifidtße U_ij_i#na^i*o*--of the opposi^aj.l S^ti'Mi being bi-ought against Mr "JVakefield inßeejfJ t6ri, hfe - w_^-*toi6i-ti^«W o_W in (ireymouth, whb; w^ l^rb^rty holders in the G-rey Valley;iffirtord themthey" m,ust be.u^in.iftMMSkgaflnat':^ dition, a^dtheyhadraet-with-a-nobii * response. A meeting was called by- ' Mr Guinness, and the proper steps taken; to . proyent the attenipt toi *_vi. fiirly poison the minds of thf/-elec-' - tors of the Grey Valley, as had been do)ie here, and in this they had' met 3*ith a' cordial response from one end ofjheyaliey to the other.. [Applause,! ■ It , had been said that the Grey people!

people knew nothing of the motives ■which led to. the opposition, to. Mr "Wakefield. They merely regarded him -as • ithe best man for the district, and na-nng.a large per^oiital^interest in^the electorate they ha<l as^m^eh jrigh^ as anybody else to feel anxious for the.iretiirn of toe batman. [CaielJft:] Whep, however, they were told the exact ch_ta»cteVof the opposition' they did exeirt themselves •mSbly'.' .They cired nothinff there for 'thT.e party ■criea w^ichwexe ruming':Ree^nr but went in -Heart and soul to 1 return the man"^^whom^they 'properly ligstrdedas the x b^; v &a_t v ' ; fo>, j^ i cou^t'iu e ncy. he y^ .sprfgr^^a^ hut^li would nd t be^lojagi-hefore'. *hey would havp; ano^eripJMrta&i^ of 'eier-ihg. then*. • Tnae^emnßef^^nf iteit" ''.time*' '".hey. ■woul^lttye"'-*-^ as „ .pre Wi t' the -repetition A>f *auch 'a disaster to the West •Sotfti ti&ketil "Oh behajf of Jflie Grey- 1 tao*i*J- siHl^iili^ ' \-^Sp**T. ■ (^uriqiL -tpet^ana |fr guinness. County Chair]-anati^Ke.-*e|a-_l-d:hiß sincere thauka :ti . !."',^\* ' 'Tn&^hai_rnian:,prorosed^tba_n>of -' The Brunnerton Electora," ■&$&& -with *tb& ***$ { M§W^|Viw.ler, rrifc'_iit*»M^^-^ firi.dV- tifamigflffi^ -^^-•nte^M^^xffi: ";,;; ! *'" Mr^UoninVinieplj, said :, As one of the first to stand on a public. platfprm in *^ _3^^bn" ? and' propose that Mr. . Wa^eld^jfas. a fit and proper person this electorate in Parjiatneut, it aforde-l him , the. greatest jl^Stti»iQ'b^mfMent. that evenin^ib -thj ibanor to 4l»ir*<gli-i«t /[GheeA!] Be J&mjft&frfy -and having aincehSard his addresses, •hl^-o^.n^rte^wlth'^W * (Sneers. Jj .go &>»& M .mwvwnw iJ^Jbiadp^^yrj^^e* 0 :** 8 ! but direotly a4v^r|% '.GM&'pifo .narrowed! itnd^endships fejt off as quioUy**. it had^pea iormed. But wtfen he -cas.i his eye roundlhe.rdointhat even- 1 i^^^^^^thering, k *ljaa,t "b im assem^la^e, /tho,! likeu:o£ which, _9_4e4tfertainly never before been seen in -JieerW^W.'f-oay, iwt but t feel ppobd6fs^c'tf--":^tim6ny that, though' tyeir' gnojt.iad suffered nbt-ting' in .their esiux^t-on; {Pro- ± lot^ißdchearitig.] He should certainly have |^d^^%Vm/-^tu%^^;ihe „ _ta_m#^T«S MA M :^ !r n|W.. i : «thenvjseJieJ*ojjss to shortly see. him • TxT^af Hp*i?e ior _psae. other, distrmt, a^^^ure thiitrioo^irm^ CoJbriy would be niore pleased to see ifciiian.this. ' , "rtgarA. . to G^miftarcial Interest, itha^d been : ■said ihatf of 'tlie West CpastTwere able), to hold •;#__& own wit_L any aiimilar class in.th© - < QpJ4 :Q j& ■ r'-fajfe"' he yjnjffl*dftred^^t_u3y. , .J-aVi i f their own interest in'tiot Tetturning Mr. Wakefield. [Applads^;] ' BiWever,; should .their guest, retufn', - would n^^f^t ,^^&e^^ngah-f-^^^r 7 ; , «ees ft yifiit the^lr_fcß_Sllhe 'f_4fre!! dpoa . iJie , children. .{Cheers,^..l'Mrtij Cohen- ■ concluded a very able -apoeeb by «v"ftw ' *b"t .acknowledging ' th^t/toaflti-'fflhd 1 •wUhing liealth and pr<*ewHty t^tHeif •ffueit.^- 1 .t- • •-■■ - s*"^-^"'- 1« * oVI -^ 5 ' -MUnied, With i^ast .the names -of Mej^.^l^i, jQuigiey J_DAi Quigley; [J4#.,J^^spfta<<*vl^rr,:'*^ "The toast was drunk enthusiastically. . I^.>* Qoi^ey*; reapdnded : ; He 'h^d ; *upported tt^ b^st l-'ian; And s wo^ (thtf^lino'^^v^tepk: . JtSheßr^ r^eaklng'tp -^h^^ast^r W^efield «iio*, J^ J^]r% %-_J(eas-og , i featoft of* the^ntest t|st» there had been) a-'-few indafeftdeftt who'hflri -had thei^ura^i^ttaerr* opiniohs, arid who: refuM to b^^waaded ' vptjng .against . .t_i^''^b^^'' I '>'c^h^etions. It -w^rpl^aßi^g, not only; on acpouut of the^indiyidu^Ls^ppprt thus accorded, "but . Dec^j^p^ Mi.&te> a -sfasong 1 .protest Agaiggl jpb#. has^ attempt which had : bee»^iad-r^by a'--fe*wf'-nit_re*3ted pef«ons, to ponlbxl f] tHe a Cath6lic s jnind agftipat,. bii^ ; (th^ speaker). He wishednt'-^'.^lli^incllly , understood, that he fully, absolved the clergy of that.jdenomination from any participation io theiaction roferred to.- The gentlemen in question had promised to stand neutral in the contest, and he Tjelievedjiat they had hqnbrab, ly done .so. A^it^fy.-.JZiL-: '•.■::!•>"" '.■■'■'■'< '•■■ - Nai4«r^-4^]bjeir : -.'lo-iiii^i,. -ineiiiduig ; ••The BlacTa Point Band," responded to by Mr J, Rjcharila,. •" The Ladies,' v responded^ to by "ftjr. W-yl^e, , .;* Our Hosti*«l .; Hosrtes^iTespliiided'' to by. Mr Dawson,- •vThe^refis,": responded to by*" Mr Potts', and ni-iuy others, were proposed and duly. aolmowledged, and the company separated at 4 a_m. with' •*• Aulct Lang &yn,e," and three ringtng cheers for the departing guest. •-_ - yj f ■ .rrtrr "i —